/article-new/2015/06/ResearchKit-icon.jpg?lossy){kind=icon}
Apple is looking to fill a "Privacy Counsel" position with an attorney who has expertise in the health field and HIPAA compliance, according to a new listing on the company's job site discovered by Business Insider. The job description calls for someone who has "health privacy expertise" and 5 to 9 years of experience as an associate at a top-tier law firm or business, among other qualifications.
Apple's privacy counsel will help the company navigate U.S. HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) laws, which include a strict set of standards for managing the privacy and security of all health-related information. The listing also asks for CIPP certification, the first certification offered for information privacy law, and lists the following potential projects:
- privacy by design reviews and projects
- assist with privacy complaints and breaches
- support compliance and auditing frameworks
- advise on privacy aspects of licensing and procurement deals and corporate acquisitions
- assist with drafting of policies and procedures surrounding privacy laws
Apple has taken a significant interest in healthcare in recent years, introducing the Apple Watch and both ResearchKit and CareKit, two frameworks designed to help researchers and doctors interface with patients and gather invaluable health-related data. Given that interest, it is unsurprising Apple is looking for a lawyer with expertise in these areas, but it does perhaps signal Apple's intention to further delve into medical research that would require HIPAA compliance.
As Business Insider points out, none of Apple's current products require federal medical regulation and Apple does not offer a HIPAA compliant database for CareKit developers.
Earlier today, Apple CEO Tim Cook said health is an area where Apple is "very focused." "We believe that health is something that is a huge problem in the world, a huge issue, and we think it is ripe for simplicity and sort of a new view," he said. "We'd like to contribute to that."
Top Rated Comments
"We believe that health is something that is a huge problem in the world..."
Well as a company. Like putting resources out there as a company to develop solutions.What a genius! I would never thought that health is such a huge problem! No wonder you are the CEO Apple!
I think this is the last thing anyone should be snarky towards Apple and Tim over.
Apple employs hundreds of layers. Every lawyer that's every touched a malpractice case has HIPAA experience. This isn't special or surprising.
They are asking for a certification as well.Well as a company. Like putting resources out there as a company to develop solutions.
The health care world does not tolerate dysfunctional products. Imagine if you are relaying on a device to monitor an important condition you may have and all of a sudden after an update the device stops working and you are in the dark and may even ending up with some even more serious health problem. Let me give you an example. If you are diabetic and your monitor does not read your blood sugar accurately and you take a wrong dose of insuline. That can kill you! Thinks are not as simple as Tim is saying. He either has no clue or trying to be deceiving (as usual).I think this is the last thing anyone should be snarky towards Apple and Tim over.
He needs to go back an work as the Apple COMPUTERS CEO.
[doublepost=1464143120][/doublepost]
Apple should disrupt healthcare in a major way! We need it in the US
The main problem health care in the USA has is cost! Do you think he can help us with that? He rips you off every time you buy an apple product! What make you think he can help decrease the health care cost? Please enlighten me.The health care world does not tolerate dysfunctional products. Imagine if you are relaying on a device to monitor an important condition you may have and all of a sudden after an update the device stops working and you are in the dark and may even ending up with some even more serious health problem. Let me give you an example. If you are diabetic and your monitor does not read your blood sugar accurately and you take a wrong dose of insuline. That can kill you! Thinks are not as simple as Tim is saying. He either has no clue or trying to be deceiving (as usual).
[doublepost=1464144130][/doublepost]You have a biased opinion about Apple and TC, which is ok, but your comments have nothing to do with his comments. Lowering health care costs is truly a problem which he nor Apple are addressing. Any critical apps will have FDA testing/approval before implementing, which is precisely why they were not included with Apple Watch launch. Your idea that any doctor would advise a patient with a critical health issue to depend on an app is very misinformed. Btw, you might not know it but you misspelled insulin, in case you are truly interested in accuracy.He needs to go back an work as the Apple COMPUTERS CEO.
[doublepost=1464143120][/doublepost]
The main problem health care in the USA has is cost! Do you think he can help us with that? He rips you off every time you buy an apple product! What make you think he can help decrease the health care cost? Please enlighten me.
I agree with your statements and I also work in a hospital (for almost 20 years now...). But Apple is not proposing to enter the healthcare system by building traditional medical equipment, which as you said don't get updates as often (if ever). They want to incorporate their line of products which gets buggy software (not hard aware) updates very often. Right now I can't think that Apple would succeed based on the huge number of issues they are having. I am sure that one can do nice things with an Apple Watch, like tracking their medicine schedule or reminding them to go for a walk or stand up (I am not joking here), but to say that they can disrupt health care as many in this forum are saying, is a long shoot. Most people don't remember but Google had Google health. Why do you think they gave up on that? Health care is a very complex system.
I agree. I think Apple can make a revolutionary change with consumer healthcare and recreational health, but I don't believe there is much they could do with provided services and care.